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Biomanufacturing for Defense & Security Summit

  • October 27-28, 2026
  • National Harbor, MD

EVENT OVERVIEW

The Biomanufacturing for Defense and Security Summit will bring together senior thought leaders and stakeholders from across DoW, Military Research Labs, Federal Government, Commercial Industry, & Academia to discuss how each are advancing biomanufacturing to enhance national security objectives, produce critical materials for defense applications, and strengthen the overall U.S. bioindustrial manufacturing base. Biomanufacturing is crucial for U.S. national security because it enables domestic production of critical materials, medicines, and defense supplies, reducing reliance on foreign adversaries, which in turn creates resilient supply chains for the military and economy.

2026 SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

  • Michael Bailey, SES

    Director, DEVCOM CBC Keynote Speaker

  • Dr. Elizabeth Dhummakupt

    Acting Biomanufacturing Branch Chief, DEVCOM CBC

  • Caitlin Frazer

    Executive Director, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology

  • Dr. Michael Tarlov

    Acting Deputy Director, Material Measurement Laboratory, NIST

  • Dr. Liz Specht

    VP of Science & Strategic Initiatives, Food Systems Innovations

  • Dr. Valerie Reed

    Director, Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office, DoE

  • Barbara McQuiston

    Former Director of Defense for Research and Engineering, OUSD R&E / CEO, BKM Tech Inc.

  • Dr. Natalie Gogotsi

    Material Engineer, Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs

  • Dr. Nancy Kelley-Loughnane

    Biosciences Technical Advisor, AFRL

  • Dr. Deepti Tanjore

    Director, Advanced Biofuels & Bioproducts, Process Development Unit, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory

  • Steven Peretti

    Program Director, Directorate for Engineering, NSF

  • HON Dr. Aprille Ericsson

    Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science & Technology Event Moderator

ABOUT THE BIOMANUFACTURING FOR DEFENSE AND SECURITY SUMMIT

TOPICS TO BE COVERED

  • Providing Critical Biomanufacturing Infrastructure for Defense and Commercial Initiatives
  • Increasing the US Ability to Scale Domestic Biomanufacturing for Critical Products to Aid in Reversing the Growing Dependence on Foreign Resources
  • Facilitating Biobased Alternative Material Innovation for Military Applications & Supply Chains
  • Driving Innovation in Biomanufacturing for Alternative Fuels to More Effectively Position the Military for Future Energy Needs
  • Protecting the US Food Supply Chain with Precision Fermentation Solutions
  • Detailing the DoW Strategic Focus of Utilizing the Domestic Biomanufacturing Industrial Base to Create Materials and Chemicals for Defense Purposes
  • Understanding the Important Role Biomanufacturing Plays in Enhancing Sensor/Wearable Technologies for the Warfighter
  • Scaling Automated Biomanufacturing for National Security

The Biomanufacturing for Defense & Security Summit will bring together senior thought leaders and stakeholders from across DoW, Military Research Labs, Federal Government, Commercial Industry, & Academia to discuss how each are advancing biomanufacturing to enhance national security objectives, produce critical materials for defense applications, and strengthen the overall U.S. bioindustrial manufacturing base. Biomanufacturing is crucial for U.S. national security because it enables domestic production of critical materials, medicines, and defense supplies, reducing reliance on foreign adversaries, which in turn creates resilient supply chains for the military and economy.

The U.S. bioeconomy is currently worth at least $950 billion – and growing every day. That’s more than 5% of U.S. GDP. Bioindustrial manufacturing has the power to create or improve needed defense materials like lightweight composite materials, anti-corrosive lubricants, energetics, and energetic precursors, fuels, high temperature-resistant foams and thermal protection systems, and more. This summit will provide attendees with insights into scaling biomanufacturing to meet critical national security needs, protecting supply chains through distributed biomanufacturing innovation, and utilizing biomanufacturing for the generation of fuel, alternative material, food, and sensors in contested battlespaces.

DSI’s team specializes in the extensive research and development of our Summit’s content and focus areas. We will assemble the most respected minds in the biomanufacturing & biotechnology communities, including, key policy makers and stakeholders, from across government, industry, and academia. Our non-partisan approach allows us to reach across all services and organizations to bring together a truly holistic group of decision makers and solution providers.

Gain Education & Insight: Walk away with knowledge gained from our senior level speakers on some of the most complex issues facing the DoW and Federal Government as it relates to biomanufacturing across the  defense industrial base.

Build Partnerships: The agenda is designed to allow for ample networking opportunities and the ability to discover some of the latest operational biomanufacturing developments of interest to the DoW and Federal Government.

Influence: Help foster ideas. Share your own insight and knowledge during our interactive sessions. Our town hall format is your opportunity to address our speakers with questions or comments on the current mission.

DSI’s Summit directly supports DoW & Federal Government priorities by providing a conduit for officials to efficiently reach audiences outside of their respective offices that directly impact their organization’s overall mission success, at no charge to the government, and in an efficient expenditure of time.

DSI’s Summit will provide a forum to address and improve internal and external initiatives, meet with and hear from partner organizations, disseminate vital capability requirements to industry, increase visibility within the larger community, and generally support their mission.

The Summit is open and complimentary to all DoW and Federal Government employees and is considered an educational and training forum.

*Summit is Closed to The Press/ No Recordings*

SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS

The 2026 Biomanufacturing for Defense and Security Summit provides opportunities for exhibit space, round table discussions, product demonstrations, luncheon, and cocktail receptions. Download the Sponsorship and Exhibiting Prospectus Here.

BECOME A SPONSOR or Exhibitor

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